Why does my epileptic cat stop eating for a few days then resume?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry to hear that Argyll is not feeling well. His lack of appetite may be linked to the seizure episodes or of course it could be due to many other things such as pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, inflammatory bowel disease, among many other possibilities. It seems like his seizures are not completely controlled at the moment. It would be a good idea to let your veterinarian know as other seizure medications can be added to his anti-seizure medication protocol. Some of the diagnostics that can be considered to work up the lack of appetite is bloodwork and abdominal imaging, among other diagnostics. Good luck and have a good day! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

It can take 7-10days after a seizure for everything to return towards normal and some mild twitching/seixure activity is not uncommon. There are specific diets which have some anecdotal evidence and a high protein high fat diet such as hills m/d would be worthwhile considering.

Since it sounds like KD never skips a meal, its possible he is getting sick. Just like people, there are many conditions that can make pets feel sick. This could range from bacterial over growth to intestinal blockage. Also like us, diseases are best addressed early and this may result in a better prognosis. I recommend to have him examined by the veterinarian if he is not eating for 24 hours, not drinking well or if he is getting worse. The doctor will need to learn the underlying cause in order to give appropriate treatment. Bring in a stool sample in case the doctor needs to test it. I hope KD starts feeling better quickly! Please feel free to post any additional questions!

Three days without eating in a cat can be an indication of a significant disease process. Combining with this with the recent vomiting, some of the things that come to mind include gastritis, gastroenteritis, pancreatitis, immune-mediated conditions, dietary indiscretion, certain cancers of the GI tract, and neurologic disorders which can cause dizziness / nausea. If the anorexia persists for another 12-24 hours, I would definitely contact a veterinarian to be seen. When a cat stops eating for more than 4-5 days, it can can effect the liver and result in the need for hospitalization. Hope Mano is feeling better soon.

Hello, sorry to hear about Tux. If he is doing better then perhaps he could continue to be watched at home. However, if he starts to have a decreased appetite and lethargy again, or if he develops any vomiting or diarrhea then Tux should be seen by a veterinarian. There is a liver fluke that cats can get from eating lizards but this is only common in other parts of the world sick as Asia and Eastern Europe. Best of luck and hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Loss of appetite can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and others depending on the findings on exam. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

I'm sorry to hear that Maci is having this problem! Idiopathic epilepsy, which refers to seizures without any underlying cause, is rare in cats but can occur. Other possible causes would include a brain tumor or neurologic disease of some kind, as there would not be any evidence of these issues on normal bloodwork. If you are concerned and want to try and get a definitive diagnosis, you can request referral to a veterinary neurologist for further testing, which would likely include an MRI or CT scan of the brain as well as a CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) tap. If going to see a specialist is not an option for you, your veterinarian should still be able to prescribe medication to control Maci's seizures even without knowing what the underlying cause might be - I would definitely recommend this at this point, if she is having seizures every other day.